Title: Meant to Be

Author(s): Elflore and Rehanna (No, Reh didn't ask if she could post this. He already told me I could do whatever I wanted with it.)

Rating: PG ...Reh was naughty and made John say "damnit" (pretty mild compared with some of my others. :)

Summary: It's John and Aeryn getting together. Isn't that enough?

Spoilers: None. Vague references to "Throne for a Loss," "Thank God it's Friday, Again," "The Flax," "DNA Mad Scientist," "Nerve," "Picture if You Will." (Don't worry if you haven't seen PiFYW, we don't give anything away. It's not even a quote we use. )

Feedback: Pleeeeease? You'll get a cookie! I promise!

Note: This was an rp for random shippiness to start with and SOMEHOW it turned into a story.. Don't ask us how, we don't know.

Disclaimer: We don't own the characters, wish we did, and then we'd be making all the money, not Jim Henson Productions, Hallmark Entertainment, Nine Networks and the SciFi Channel. Anyway, please don't sue us; you wouldn't get anything. While the characters don't belong to us, the story DOES so please don't steal it, or plagiarize it or anything like that. © Elflore and Rehanna, 2000

*New Author Note* I want a story with chapters. This one would kinda be perfect (I remember having to break it up when I sent it out for feedback). And it will have short chapters. Sorry.

Oh, and so all the lovely people who keep reviewing my J/C stories don't think I'm giving that up on them, I'm not. This was written over a year ago, but I'm becoming a review junkie, so I thought I'd post it here ;) . All reviews will be shared with Elflore (

After that, John found himself, for once, speechless. He and his friends had been through some seriously weird times here in the Uncharted Territories...but usually when things were at their most bizarre, Zhaan would take charge, sort everything out. He didn't have the first clue how to deal with this Twilight Zone stuff.

It didn't look like he had much of a choice, though. He'd have to think of something. Or Aeryn might...she had been known to surprise him like that. For right now, though...

"Look, we're both pretty tired and confused just now," John pointed out.

"Maybe we should get some sleep, hope that things make more sense in the morning."

Aeryn shrugged. "I don't see why they would, but it's as good a plan as any, for now."

They took one last walk around the ship, still searching for some hint of what had happened to their friends, but there was nothing to be found. At last they stood together outside the door to Aeryn's quarters.

"Well...I guess this is good night," John said. He started to turn away, heading back towards his own room.

"John..." Aeryn almost whispered. "I...don't want to be alone."

John blinked, but he couldn't think of anything to say.

"I mean...what if it happens again?" Aeryn's voice was stronger now. She was speaking faster, too, almost as if she were trying to hide something. Or was that just wishful thinking again? "What if I wake up tomorrow and you're gone too?"

John turned around again, nodding slowly. "I guess...I could sleep here. If it makes you more comfortable."

He began to sink down, leaning against the wall beside her door, but Aeryn shook her head firmly. "I want you where I can keep an eye on you."

She said it almost as if he were a dog that wasn't quite house-trained, but John still had to fight an urge to grin.

"Um, all right," John agreed. "In that case...do you have a couch in there, or something? Maybe a bathtub?"

"John, you know exactly what's in there," Aeryn replied witheringly. "My quarters are no different from yours."

"Right. Okay. No problem."

John followed her inside, and found himself a nice spot on the floor near the bed.

He lay back, arms behind his head, and closed his eyes...

And opened them again, barely a minute later. Aeryn lying on her side on the bed, staring down at him.

"That can't be comfortable," she observed.

John shrugged. "I'm fine."

"Don't lie to me, John. You're not very good at it."

"Well...think I could borrow a jacket? That's all I need, really." Aeryn still didn't look happy, but she nodded, and tossed one of her jackets down to him. He rolled it up, a makeshift pillow, and settled back down.

Another two minutes passed. John shifted positions several times, trying to get comfortable. Aeryn didn't move.

"John," she said finally, "get up here."

"Just go to sleep, Aeryn. Don't worry about me. I'm fine. Really."

"Don't make me go down there, John."

John opened one eye. "You wouldn't."

Aeryn stared calmly back, half smiling. It wasn't exactly a nice smile.

John grinned nervously. "Well...if you insist..."

"I do."

"Right." Aeryn moved over, and John climbed up beside her on the bed. He turned on his side, facing away, and was careful to take up as little room as possible.

Aeryn coughed...politely? Well, something like that. John sighed, and turned onto his back. "Happy now?"

To his great surprise, Aeryn curled up against him, her head on his shoulder, and closed her eyes.

"Yes. Very happy."

A short while later, when Aeryn's breathing had become slow and regular and he was sure she was asleep, John leaned down, gently kissing the top of her head.

"I do love you, Aeryn Sun."

Then he lay back, with a quiet sigh, and closed his eyes.

Which is why he failed to see Aeryn smiling in her sleep...